We made it through the holiday season.
Now is a good time to slow down, take a deep breath and allow your nervous system a chance to feel less frazzled. Being in or near water is an excellent ally for nervous system reset. Picture this: you are standing under a canopy of monkeypod trees. Lush palms and ferns surround you, swaying in the gentle breeze. Dappled sunlight glows, a kaleidoscope of dancing foliage on the earth . You can feel the warm glow.
The distant sound of gently flowing water intrigues you, and makes you feel at ease; curiosity piques. As you walk towards the sound of trickling water, the air feels cool and refreshing. You inhale deeply, your mind unclenches, stress melts away. You feel calm and centered. You find yourself basking in a blissful state of euphoria, in total presence to your senses.
You open your eyes slowly to see that you are at the Mermaid Room of the iconic Allerton Gardens in Lawai. The fountain you are standing by is intentionally designed to undulate at a rhythm of 52-54 pulses per minute – the ideal resting heart rate. Not only are you experiencing your heart rate syncing to the pulsation of the water flow – decreasing your blood pressure – you are surrounding yourself in an environment steeped in negative ions. As a result, you are facilitating biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost energy
What is it about being near water that makes us feel so relaxed?
Some might say it is the soothing acoustics. Some would say it is the glistening of the sunlight on the water, or the comfort of knowing there is a clean water source nearby. Some would argue that it is the negative ions that are generated as water and air interact with vigor.
Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments, such as beaches, or near streams or waterfalls. They are created when oxygen molecules are broken apart with sunlight, or movement from air or water. Screens, devices and air conditioning are not conducive to negative ions, making it more necessary than ever to find ways to decompress.
What can we do to increase our exposure to the relaxing atmoshphere created by negative ions? A quick fix is as simple as a refreshing shower or bath. If you have more time, a walk outside near moving water, a day at the beach, or a trip to the National Tropical Botanical Gardens are all naturally rich negative-ion environments. Sit near a water feature, or peer into a water garden or aquarium.
Whether it be an indoor table-top fountain, a self-contained bubbling floor fountain, a trickling water-wall, a custom design, or a gushing rock waterfall, we have plenty of ideas for you to consider at Garden Ponds.
With a water feature or fountain you will enjoy:
- Wildlife—If you are a lover of nature, a water feature will soon become the most important part of your garden. Flowing water attracts, birds and pollinators. (Note: moving water does not attract mosquitos)
- Home Value —When you add a well-designed water feature to your yard, your curb appeal increases, and the environment is enhanced, adding value.
- Noise Pollution—We sometimes want to drown out sounds of cars passing or neighbors talking. A trickling pond or fountain will reduce the noise pollution in your yard and can even create a sound buffer.
- Air Quality—Flowing water releases negative ions, which has a psychological and physiological impact on our well-being.
These features have been shown to reduce stress, lower heart rate and blood pressure, increase feelings of tranquility, positive emotional responsiveness, improved concentration and perception, and improve memory restoration. Most importantly, it creates a space that invites you to slow down and allow yourself even a few moments in your day to offset the stressors of the modern world. Give your mind and body a place to absorb the negative ions, sounds and sights of flowing water, and feel peace wash over you.
Garden Ponds is located at the Kilauea Jungle Oasis beside Anaina Hou Community Park and Mini Golf. We are open Wednesday to Friday 12-5pm and Saturdays 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. You can visit our website at gardenpondskauai.com or call us at 808-828-6400 for more information.
